Recommended Lifestyle Changes for
Hypertension Management 2015
Distributed by the Clinicians Group of the
Capitol Region Right Care Initiative
Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes1
Modification
Recommendation
Approximate SBP
Reduction (Range)*
Reduce
Weight
Adopt DASH
eating
plan**
Lower
sodium
intake
Maintain normal body weight (body mass index 18.5–24.9 kg/m2)
5–20 mmHg/10 kg
Consume a diet rich in fruits,
vegetables, and low-fat dairy
products with a reduced content of saturated and total fat
8–14 mm Hg
a. Consume no more than 2,400 mg of sodium/day;
2–8 mm Hg
b. Further reduction of sodium intake to 1,500 mg/day is desirable,
since it is associated with even greater reduction in BP; and
c. Reduce sodium intake by at least 1,000 mg/day since that will
lower BP, even if the desired daily sodium intake is not achieved
Engage in regular aerobic physical activity such as brisk walking (at 4–9 mm Hg
least 30 min per day, most days of the week)
Physical
activity
Moderation Limit consumption to no more than 2 drinks± (e.g., 24 oz beer, 10
of alcohol
oz wine, or 3 oz 80-proof whiskey) ±± per day in most men, and to
consumption no more than 1 drink per day± (e.g., 12 oz beer, 4-5 oz wine, or
Tobacco
cessation
1.5 oz 80-proof whiskey) ±± in women and lighter weight persons
Use Motivational Interviewing (MI) techniques versus usual care for
smoking cessation to demonstrate a significant increase in quitting.
MI delivered by primary care physicians nearly 4 times more
effective than usual care but delivery by counselors closer to 1.25
(still a significantly higher quit rate than usual care).4
2–4 mm Hg
3–5 mm Hg3
Components of the Dietary Approaches to
Stop Hypertension Diet5
1
Dietary Component
Amount
Total fat
Saturated fat
Cholesterol
Carbohydrates
Fiber
Protein
Sodium
Potassium
Calcium
Magnesium
27% of calories
6% of calories
150 mg
55% of calories
30 g
18% of calories
1,500 mg
4,700 mg
1,250 mg
500 mg
American Heart Ass ociation/American Stroke Association. Control ling Hypert ension in Adul ts. 2013. http://www.heart.org/idc/groups/heart-pub lic/@wcm/@hcm/documen ts/
downlo ad able/ucm_461839.pdf
*Th e effects of implementing t hese mo dification s are dose and time depend ent, and co uld be greater for some individu al s.
**DASH, Dietary Approaches to St op Hypertensi on. DASH-sodi um h as a g reater effect th an DASH alone.2
2
Nation al Heart, Lung, and Blood Insitute (NH LBI). Wh at is the DASH E at ing Plan? 6 June 2014. http://www.nhl bi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/dash/
±
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-con ditions/high-blood-pres sure/expert-answers/blood-pres sure/faq-200582 54
±±
http://www.heart.org/HE ARTORG/Getti ngHealthy/Nut rition Center/Health yEati ng/Alcohol-and-Heart-Health_UCM_305173_Article.jsp
3
Min ami J, Is himitsu T, Matsu oka H. Effect s of Smokin g Cess at ion on Blood Pres sure and H eart Rat e Variabi lity in Habitu al Smokers. Hypert en sion . 1999;33:586-590. doi: 10.1161/
01.HYP.33.1.586
4
Lindson-Hawley N, Th ompson TP, Beg h R. Moti vation al interviewing for smokin g cessatio n. Cochran e Database of Systematic Reviews 2015, Is sue 3. Art. No.: CD006936. DOI:
10.1002/146518 58.CD006936.pub3.
5
Langan R, Jones K. Common Quest ions About the Initial Man ag ement of H yp ertension . American Family Physician. 2015; 91(3): 172-177